Ven. Master,​I was reading your commentaries on The Bequeathed Teachings Sutra, where you wrote that “Professors and lawyers are such examples. Their profession requires them to engage in excessive mental processing. Therefore, their system is out of whack: the yin and yang are out of balance.”

I have admired your teaching for quite a while and hope that someday I will have the opportunity to practice under your guidance. I feel very close to you. There is a feeling of familiarity with your teaching which makes me feel very happy and optimistic about life.​In Vietnam, my friends and I follow the Buddha Recitation method that contemplates a red dot on the top of Amitabha Buddha’s crown. This is under the guidance of a monk over the internet. That is why we call it a cloud temple.

Good day! To get to the point, I sat in full lotus for 30 minutes three days ago, then one hour the next day.

I was going for 1.5 hours the next day, yesterday, but in 20 or so minutes the knee pain became worse than it had ever been previously and I stopped by about 30 minutes. What should I do? Should I just keep forcing it and endure?​Best wishes, Paul

阿彌陀佛. Thank you very much for your reply. I’m sorry I forgot to mention that when I visited Po Lin Monastery they were indeed having their very long Chan Qi which lasted for 70 days (ten weeks), though not everyone there participated. ​

I don’t know whether they eat so quickly at other times, but since you said there is no need to train for it I’ll just leave this matter aside. I think what you said about US people being “more self-indulgent and impatient” is very very true. As I was used to the American city life, it took me a lot of efforts to learn the rules and conventions of Hong Kong Buddhist temples/centers (and I’m still learning them). I feel that this helps me grow in maturity.

hello sir,its great to contected to you.i am 33 year multipal slip disc patient and cant sit for long,i am very comfortable in layinh down streight(which dotcor also advisid me) can i do metditation while laying down?i know it seems foolish.but it comes to my brain and i asked. Thank you.V ​

However, I have a problem now as I prefer sitting cross-legged (not necessary full lotus), or with my legs bend whenever I sit down. ​

​Over years, and feel the blood flow in my legs is not as good as before, the condition may not be reversible. Hence I am concern with sitting in full lotus during practice even though I would really prefer to do so.

Could you give any advice on what I should do so I can sit in full lotus during practice and not develop leg problems in the future?

First of all, I would like to pay my respects to you in thanks for organizing the Chan Qi retreat for us. During the one month I stayed at Lu Mountain Temple, it felt like I was living in a small version of the Mahayana Pure Land and that you were the Cardinal who with altruism saved living beings by teaching us the meditation dharma.​Lu Mountain Temple is a calm, relaxing, dignified place, and very suitable for meditation. While there, I learned a lot of meaningful things: Spiritual cultivation practice is the best daily activity; we should have no fear of suffering (that is, we should be willing to accept the suffering and have patience to bear it when most people do not); and do not be satisfied with what we have achieved. You have taught us that we should not waste our samadhi energy with false thoughts. This energy which is on a higher plane is unconditional but it is lost when we think false thoughts because they are conditional.

Ven. Master,​I still do not understand: what is meant by “breathing naturally” and do “not interfere with the breathing?” Please give me an example and elaborate.

In my limited understanding, to breathe naturally, does that mean that one does not take long or short breaths? Please kindly clarify this for me.

When I am standing or sitting on a chair, I can breathe very comfortably, my breath fills up my stomach effortlessly (it takes about six seconds to fill up my stomach) and I feel very good. However, while sitting, especially in full lotus, my breathing becomes difficult. The first three seconds are OK, but afterward it does not feel comfortable, as if there is some obstruction and I experience discomfort in my stomach. When I continue to breathe, air cannot fill up my stomach as much as while I am standing or sitting in a chair. Similarly, when exhaling, the first three seconds are OK but afterward, it feels uncomfortable.

I have been contemplating my breath as per your instruction. I need further direction because I think ran into some problems:

I inhale and expand my tummy, hold my breath for 2-5 seconds and then exhale. Often when I hold my breath, my stomach starts making bubbling noises even as air comes out from my mouth. While I contemplate my breath, I feel very comfortable. If I prevent the air from escaping then I feel a little bit of discomfort. Also, I pass gas while I meditate but I still feel as comfortable as before.

Is there anything wrong with my practice? Please clarify it for me. After I started following your meditation methodology, I feel better and can sleep better. For that I am very grateful and wish you great health.

I have been meditating for several years with little result… Thanks to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I was able to get a hold of your book, “The Chan Handbook: The Learner’s Guide to Meditation.” ​​

After reading it, I realized that you are a competent and kind Good Knowing Adviser. That is why I wish to learn meditation from you. I live quite far away, in Illinois. Please kindly tell me when you will hold your meditation retreats, the location and duration. Also, how can I get in touch with you?

I read the post on Ven. XianJie. It says that he certified to Second Dhyana. How does he know? I have often heard that if we knew we should not even say it because it would cause a loss of merit and virtue and would easily bring forth the mind of arrogance.

Ven. Masters!​I have been practicing Minh Sát meditation at home for close to two months. At first, I contemplated the nostril area where the breath came in and out. As I practiced for a month at home, I became afflicted with laziness and became lethargic. Then it went away. Next, I became scattered: [I have a hard time concentrating].

Ven. Master,​I wish to learn meditation under your guidance and therefore plan to participate in the Chan class that starts July 14, 2012 [at your Rosemead temple]. However, I live in San Diego and would have a hard time coming to the temple every Saturday.

I bow to you in respect.​As you have often said, we should not practice Chan unless we have a Good Knowing Adviser’s guidance (even though, as I understand it, we do not need his direct guidance). That is why I dare not practice Chan.

First of all, I wish you and the venerable sangha health, peace and bliss.​I left the home life 10 years ago and am practicing Chan. I am vigorously practicing in order to develop samadhi power. My teacher passed away a few years ago. I am currently practicing by myself and worry that the skandha demons will come to destroy all of these years of gongfu training.

I don’t understand why, at times, it’s very easy to focus the mind when cultivating. But other times, the mind refuses to cooperate. In the beginning I find sitting in full lotus no problem; then often, the pain would come within 30 minutes.

I am a lay person who does not understand the various samadhi levels and certifications. I hope that you will kindly instruct me.

Recently, when I meditate, I can see my soul leave my body. At first, I could see nothing because it’s very dark. A year later, I begin to be able to see things when my soul leaves my body, reaching heights. And I can also see bright lights during the day as well as at night time.

I read your answer to the question of “Obstruction From Spouse”, about a wife and mother who wants to leave the home life, but is obstructed by her husband and the two daughters. I have the following questions:

1. The father and the two daughters reached Third Dhyana. Is this the result of their cultivation from a previous life? Are they aware of their level?

2. At Third Dhyana, why are they still angry, worse than people at zero Dhyana?​TNQ

Dear master, I read the following sentences from Pure Land narratives but don’t understand what it means. I know Vietnamese but just don’t understand the concept why Zen masters all switched over to Pure Land.

Could you please expound on these?​“Of the 13 patriarchs of the Pure Land School, there are seven who are accomplished Chan Masters.

After I sent the request for the plaques [on behalf of the entire Assembly for the upcoming One Week Buddha Recitation Dharma Assembly]. I felt a weird presence even in my meditation as well. It feel sort of not bright and smells a little like drain…I wonder if I did anything wrong, or retribution for giving other chance to make incense offering. That’s my guess, I don’t have much of what’s going on…​DT, Artesia, California